Lightweight golf bag

ABSTRACT

A golf club carrier mainly comprises an extrusion molded cylindrical frame with multiple integral sub-cylinders each longitudinally extending in parallel to accommodate at least the length of a golf club shaft. The sub-cylinders are latitudinally arranged in a circle into which a cylindrical container for holding accessories is inserted through a press fit. The container has a closed bottom, an open top and a hand-held lid removably attached to the open top for closing the same. The height of the container is much less than that of the main frame to allow an easy access to the contents in the container. At the end opposite from the container lid the main frame is reinforced for supporting the same on the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports bag. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an abbreviated golf bag for carrying a fullset of golf clubs with less weight and extra convenience.

B. Description of the Prior Art

To keep golf a healthy sport with no compromise in the desiredprecision, golfers had better carry their own set of all fourteenregularly allowed clubs rather than getting an assistance of carts orpaid carriers.

Apart from full-sized golf bags which are heavily clad with layers andmeant to be carried on hand-pulled or motorized carts in the golfcourse, choices of lighter golf bags have been offered using lesserand/or lighter materials especially suited to female golfers.

Extra restrictions by golf facilities against using golf carts to helpcarry golf clubs in a bag have made male as well as female golfers todaylook for a lightest golf bag, although there are already introduced manylighter versions of conventional heavy golf bags available to buy orreference.

Prior arts show a variety of golf bags. U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,024 toClayton describes a Golf Club Bag that can be made with two pieces ofplanar flexible material stitched together and then a plurality ofelongate tubes are inserted in a row between the material pieces forreceiving the club shafts, respectively. The assembled bag may bechanged in form between a “bundled” position where the clubs arearranged in a circle and an unfolded flat arrangement.

Kjose U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,391 shows a reversible equipment carrier thatis converted into a golf bag with multiple tubular sleeves for holdingindividual club shafts. Again, each of the sleeves are inserted into thecorresponding number of separate compartments of the main structure ofthe bag calling for multiple manufacturing steps for making each of thesleeves in position.

While the above examples of improvements resulted in lighter bags, thereare found substantial improvements to make in the area of golf bag inlightness and convenience in the actual use in the field.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an ultralight golf club carrier with an extra convenience means of hand rest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf club carrier comprises: (a) cylindrical accessory containerhaving a closed bottom, an open top and a hand-held lid removablyattached to the open top for closing the same; (b) an extrusion moldedcylindrical main frame with multiple integral sub-cylinders eachlongitudinally extending in parallel to accommodate at least the lengthof a golf club shaft, the sub-cylinders being latitudinally arranged ina circle for enclosing the container tightly from its open top andextending past the closed bottom to provide a plurality ofcircumferential tubular compartments; and (c) a shoulder strap attachedexternally to the main frame for holding the carrier during itstransportation, whereby a number of golf clubs are received in thesub-cylinders and carried by a hand-shoulder coordination of a golfplayer holding the hand-held lid and wearing the shoulder strap.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the lid of thecontainer has a rigid hand held area generally extending longitudinallyof the cylindrical container. In another embodiment, the lid of thecontainer has a rigid hand held area generally extending latitudinallyof the cylindrical container.

The golf club carrier of the present invention further comprises anouter skin that covers the main frame leaving at least the top entrancesof the compartments for the golf shafts.

Because of the one-piece structure of the main frame the overalllightness of the carrier of the present invention is easily controlledat manufacturing in a matter of choosing a lighter plastic material forextrusion molding. Therefore, the club carrier made according to thepresent invention allows a golf player to carry the permitted fourteenclubs throughout the golf play with less labor of transporting a golfbag itself.

To improve the texture over the plastic main frame an outer skin offabric may be layered on the frame. The skin may be also made of one ormore resin coatings.

The shoulder strap is attached at its two opposite ends to the mainframe through the outer skin with localized reinforcements. In anotherembodiment, the shoulder strap is attached directly to the main frameand extends in a spiral path along the length of the main frame.

The golf club carrier of the present invention further comprises a standand multiple pointed protrusions at the bottom end of the main framecooperating with the stand for propping the carrier. The stand has atleast one pole connected at its top end pivotally to an upper area ofthe main frame and may be swiveled between a propping position away fromthe main frame and a rest position in a lower area of the main frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf club carrier according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 a cross sectional view of the golf club carrier taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a perspective view of a top end cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an accessory container with the hand restcovering the top opening of the container.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the golf club carrier taken alongline 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the golf club carrier taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 a perspective view of a bottom member of the golf club carrier ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the golf club carrier according to asecond embodiment wherein a different shape of the hand rest isattached.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the golf club carrier according to athirds embodiment showing a shoulder strap is attached to the carriersleeve along a spiral path.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention showing an optional stand to maintain the carrier at rest onthe ground.

Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together, a golf club carrier 10according to the first embodiment of the present invention is generallycomprised of an elongated cylindrical main frame 11 having a centertubular wall 12 and fourteen sub-cylinders 14 arranged in parallel toeach other about the tubular wall 12.

The tubular wall 12 and sub-cylinders 14 of main frame 11 may be formedthrough extrusion molding plastic into an ultra light single piecestructure having the cross section of FIG. 2, which is then cross cutinto an appropriate length to receive a set of fourteenregulation-approved golf clubs 15 to carry. Fourteen round outer walls16 are connected with each other in a circle and their junctions areextended to the center tubular wall 12 forming the same number ofpartitions 17 defining the sub-cylinders 14. The center tubular wall 12forms an inner cylinder that can be configured with a floor to holdarticles. Although a plastic sheet can be laid across the opening of theinner cylinder to form a floor to support articles, a fabric sack ispreferred to maintain a lower weight.

An outer skin 18 of fabric is bonded to the main frame 11 for providinga good texture to the touch and aesthetic value of the golf club carrier10. Outer skin 18 may also be formed by resin coatings. Skin 18 may beso thin that no significant weight is added to the carrier 10.

At the top of the main frame 11, a cylindrical container 19 snugglyplugs the inner space of the tubular wall 12 partially and is capped bya dome-shaped lid 20, which is threaded into the container 19. Thecontainer 19 has a shoulder 21 that rests on a top surface of thetubular wall 12. From atop the lid 20 is protruding a vertical hand rest22 centrally thereof. The hand rest 22 is textured to provide a goodgrip for a hand to carry out a comfortable transportation of the golfclubs in the carrier 10 without swinging and clanking of the golf clubs15 against each other. The hand rest 22 also works as a handle to turnthe lid 20 in closing or opening the container 19.

A shoulder strap 23 is attached through hooks 24 at its opposite ends tothe main frame 11 providing a comfortable carrying means in cooperationwith the hand rest 22. To provide eyelets for the hooks 24, tworeinforcement straps 25 are attached to the outer surface of the skin 18with folds 26 formed in a longitudinal projection line. The straps 25may be directly on the main frame 11 if the outer skin 18 is of resincoatings, which then cover the straps 25. Each of the folds 26 has athrough hole reinforced with a grommet where one of the hooks 24penetrates. The straps 25 may be replaced by cable loops disposed insideof the tubular wall 12 of the main frame 11.

The strap 23 has pronounced soft ridges 27 on its underside to provide apositive grip on the shoulder of a bag carrier. Thus, with a number ofgolf clubs received in the sub-cylinders 14 the carrier 10 may betransported by a hand-shoulder coordination of a golf player holding thehand rest 22 and wearing the shoulder strap 23.

Top ends of outer walls of the main frame 11 where golf clubs 15 mostlybear against are reinforced by a cap 28 to resist wear and tear. The cap28 may be a separate member as shown in FIG. 3. The top end cap 28 hasannular outer walls 29 that gradually upwardly conform to the connectedouter walls 16 of the main frame 11. End cap 28 also has similarlyrounded inner walls 30 with an even space from the outer walls 29 andfourteen slits 31 at the corresponding locations to the partitions 17 ofthe main frame 11. Thus, the top end cap 28 may be brought into awrapping contact with the outer walls of the main frame 11 and bondedpermanently thereto for reinforcement.

Alternatively, the cap 28 may be a thick coating of a resin material,which is readily available in various forms suitable for spraying ordipping for localized reinforcement of the main frame 11 at its top end.

FIG. 4 shows the container 19 with the lid 20 on as discussed above. Inturn, FIG. 5 is to show the inside of the container 19 in the fullyassembled carrier 10 in a cross section. The container 19 has partitions32 to provide three divided compartments 33 for conveniently organizinggolf accessories like balls, a glove and tees to carry. Surrounding thecontainer 19 is the main frame 11 and the both sides of the outer walls16 of the main frame 11 are covered by the end cap 28 with the fabricskin 18 covered under the outer walls 29 of the end cap 28. Aspreviously mentioned above, the container 19 having partitions made fromsingle piece of plastic exclusion can receive a number of bags, in thiscase three. The container can be in the form of a rigid container or aflexible fabric bag, or a flexible non fabric bag.

The screw-on connection of continuous threads between the container 19and lid 20 is the preferred fastening mechanism although modifiedthreads of snap tabs-notches or tabs-hooks may be used to engage anddisengage the lid 20 to and from the container 19 with quick partialturns of the lid 20 against the container 19.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a bottom member 34 shaped like a hollow disc 35having an outer annular wall 36 erected upright from the disc base 35and an inner annular wall 37 which extends in parallel with the outerwall 36. The inner wall 37 may be higher relative to the outer wall 36providing an enough bonding surface with the center wall 12. The bottommember 34 may be formed of an elastic material for supporting the fullyloaded carrier 10 with a good absorbency of shocks when it is put downto the ground. Alternatively, the bottom member 34 may be replaced by athick coating of a resin material as with the cap 28.

The U-shaped bottom member 34 in transverse cross section (not shown) ispress fitted to the main frame 11 with the skin 18 at three sidesincluding the bottom end and parts of the inner 12 and outer 16 walls ofthe frame 11. The skin 18 may have an extended bottom end that coextendwith the bottom and inner wall 37 of the member 34. The main frame 11and bottom member 34 may be fastened together by mechanical means suchas bolts and nuts or through a chemical bond.

FIG. 8 illustrates the identical golf club carrier 10 with a modifiedcontainer lid 40 having a horizontal hand rest 42.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein a golfclub carrier 100 has an integral shoulder strap 123 attached by tacks124 or bolts and nuts to a main frame 111 though an outer skin 118 atits two opposite ends 125. The strap 123 extends in a spiral path alongthe length of the carrier 100 to better hold the carrier 100 when it islifted by the strap 123 in operation.

The strap 123 may be adjustable in length by a well-known meansincluding an adjustable fasteners used in conventional luggage and agarment buckle mechanism.

In FIG. 10, a golf club carrier 200 of another embodiment of the presentinvention is propped on an optional stand 201 attached to a main frame211 to keep the carrier 200 at a convenient posture for the golfer todraw clubs 215 out of the carrier. The stand 201 comprises a hollow pole202 connected at its top end to a connector 203 that is pivotallyattached to an upper reinforcement strap 225 at its fold 226diametrically opposite to another fold 227 where a shoulder strap 223 isattached. A bottom end of the pole 202 is fitted with a heel cap 204 andmay be swiveled toward the main frame 211 into a clip 205 for clippingthe pole 202 resiliently until the golfer pulls out the stand 202 underthe carrier for propping the same as in the drawing. The clip 205 may beattached by a tack (not shown) to a lower reinforcement strap 225 a usedto hook a lower end of the shoulder strap 223.

Fitted to the lower end of the carrier 200 is a bottom member 234 havingtwo or more balancing toes 235 protruding at a wide angle to prevent thecarrier 200 from rolling from side to side. Toes 235 may be formedintegrally with the bottom member 234 or they may be separateattachments to the member 234. Alternatively, the bottom member 234 mayhave flat sidewalls like a square, pentagon or hexagon rather than acircle as illustrated. Thus, the multiple toes 235 help to maintain thecarrier 200 an upright posture on the ground. Optionally, a three-pointsupport of the carrier 200 may be established by two toes 235 and theheel cap 204 for an easier access to the golf clubs.

Though single pole 202 is illustrated in FIG. 10, a double pole standmay be employed instead with appropriate modifications to the connector203 and clip 205 to hold two poles for providing a four-point supportfor the carrier 200.

Even with the various optional convenience attachments described above,the inherent structural oneness of the main frame 11/111/211 keeps thegolf club carrier of the present invention made lighter as more improvedmaterials become available for extrusion molding.

Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the golf club carrierwith hand rest has been shown and described, and several modificationsthereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciatethat various additional changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, as defined anddifferentiated by the following claims.

CALL OUT LIST OF ELEMENTS

-   10: Golf Club Carrier 34: Bottom Member-   11: Main Frame 35: Hollow Disc-   12: Tubular Wall 36: Outer Wall-   14: Sub-cylinders 37: Inner Wall-   15: Golf Clubs 40: Container Lid-   16: Connected Outer Walls 42: Hand Rest-   17: Partition 100: Golf Club Carrier-   18: Outer Skin 111: Main Frame-   19: Container 118: OuterSkin-   20: Container Lid 123: Shoulder Strap-   21: Shoulder 124: Tack-   22: Hand Rest 125: Strap End-   23: Shoulder Strap 200: Golf Club Carrier-   24: Hooks 201: Stand-   25: Reinforcement Strap 202: Pole-   26: Fold 203: Connector-   27: Ridges 204: Heel Cap-   28: Cap 205: Clip-   29: Outer Walls 211: Main Frame-   30: Inner Walls 225,225 a: Reinforcement Strap-   31: Slit 226,227: Fold-   32: Container Partition 234: Bottom Member-   33: Compartments 235: Toes

1. A golf club carrier comprising: a. a cylindrical accessory container having a closed bottom, an open top and a hand-held lid removably attached to said open top for closing the same; b. an extrusion molded main frame with multiple integral sub-cylinders each longitudinally extending in parallel to accommodate at least the length of a golf club shaft, said sub-cylinders being latitudinally arranged in a circle for enclosing said container tightly from its open top and extending past said closed bottom to provide a plurality of circumferential tubular compartments; and c. a shoulder strap attached externally to said main frame for holding said carrier during its transportation, whereby a number of golf clubs are received in said sub-cylinders and carried by a hand-shoulder coordination of a golf player holding said hand-held lid and wearing said shoulder strap.
 2. The golf club carrier of claim 1, wherein said lid of said container has a rigid hand held area generally extending longitudinally of said cylindrical container.
 3. The golf club carrier of claim 1, wherein said lid of said container has a rigid hand held area generally extending latitudinally of said cylindrical container.
 4. The golf club carrier of claim 1, further comprising an outer skin which covers said main frame leaving at least the top entrances of said compartments for the golf shafts.
 5. The golf club carrier of claim 4, wherein said outer skin is made of fabric.
 6. The golf club carrier of claim 4, wherein said outer skin is made of one or more resin coatings.
 7. The golf club carry handle of claim 1, wherein the number of said tubular compartments is fourteen.
 8. The golf club carrier of claim 1, wherein said shoulder strap is attached at its two opposite ends to said main frame through said outer skin with localized reinforcements.
 9. The golf club carrier of claim 1, wherein said shoulder strap is attached directly to said main frame and extends in a spiral path along the length of said main frame.
 10. The golf club carrier of claim 1, wherein said main frame is reinforced at its top and bottom ends by additional walls.
 11. The golf club carrier of claim 10, wherein said additional walls are thick resin coatings.
 12. The golf club carrier of claim 10, wherein said additional walls are separate members that substantially conform to the top and bottom ends of said main frame and attached thereto respectively to resist wear and support said main frame on the ground.
 13. The golf club carrier of claim 12 further comprising a stand and multiple pointed protrusions at the bottom end of said main frame cooperating with said stand for propping said carrier, said stand having at least one pole connected at its top end pivotally to an upper area of said main frame and being swiveled between a propping position away from said main frame and a rest position in a lower area of said main frame.
 14. The golf club carrier of claim 1 further comprising a stand and multiple pointed protrusions at the bottom end of said main frame cooperating with said stand for propping said carrier, said stand having at least one pole connected at its top end pivotally to an upper area of said main frame and being swiveled between a propping position away from said main frame and a rest position in a lower area of said main frame.
 15. A golf club holder comprising: a. a plastic frame made by extrusion forming multiple integrally connected sub-cylinders each longitudinally extending in parallel to accommodate at least the length of a standard golf club shaft, said sub-cylinders are circularly arranged to form an inner cylinder with an opening, wherein the plastic frame has a closed bottom, and an open top; b. a handle connected to the inner cylinder of the plastic frame.
 16. The golf club holder of claim 15 wherein the handle forms a lid removably attached to the opening of the inner cylinder, allowing access to the inner cylinder wherein the inner cylinder is formed to hold articles.
 17. The golf club holder of claim 15 wherein the handle forms a lid removably attached to the opening of the inner cylinder, allowing access to the inner cylinder wherein the inner cylinder retains a fabric bag to hold articles.
 18. The golf club holder of claim 15 wherein the handle forms a lid removably attached to the opening of the inner cylinder, allowing access to the inner cylinder wherein the inner cylinder retains a rigid container to hold articles. 